The group says statistics released last week by the U.S. Department of Agriculture show that vegetable production in Michigan was down about 2 percent in 2012 from the previous year, while the combined value of the vegetable crop rose by 3 percent.

The numbers are based on harvests of a dozen consumer staples, such as asparagus, snap beans, cabbage, carrots, squash and tomatoes. Statewide production of most vegetable crops decreased slightly, but celery and sweet corn output rose.